European Athletics (EAA) – News – Stars promise great show at European indoors

Half a dozen of Europe's finest athletes attended the official press conference of the 32nd European Athletics Indoor Championships in Göteborg, Sweden.

Below are some of the highlights from the press conference, which took place at the Scandinavium arena on Thursday.

French pole vaulter and Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie, who is bidding for an historic third successive European indoor gold medal, was asked about his expectations going into the event.

"I hope to win again and to finish unbeaten for the indoor season. Also, why not better my personal best, which I did two years ago (he achieved 6.03m which ranks him third on the all-time indoor lists) at the last European Athletics Indoor Championships?"

He was then asked about his changes of coaches after his Olympic success and how the switch had gone?

"I'm much more peaceful in my head. I'm much faster on the runway this season and a lot more consistent. I've been consistently over 5.80m. I'm not alone here, though. The German guys are very strong as are all the vaulters in Europe. Also, the Europeans guys are the best in the world."

His younger brother Valentin recently posted a personal best of 5.70m in Metz and so was asked about the secret of the Lavillenie sibling's success?

"There is no secret (laughs). We work hard. It is a pleasure to be on the track. We just jump, jump, jump."

Emma Green Tregaro of Sweden and Renaud Lavillenie of France at the official European Athletics and Göteborg 2013 LOC press conference at the Scandinavium arena.

Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro has won a silver and a bronze medal, respectively, at the past two editions of the European outdoor championships. She was quizzed about how much she was looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd.

"I enjoy the fact this competition is in my hometown. It is going to be really great and I am completely looking forward to it. I have won three championship outdoor medals before but competing in my hometown feels different. For other seasons the indoor season was not a priority, but the competition here feels very special. I'm looking forward to performing."

Robbie Grabarz of Great Britain, the reigning European outdoor champion and Olympic bronze medallist, was asked about his expectations ahead of the Men's high jump.

"I'm coming here to win, that's what everyone else is here to do. I'm going for gold and I'm going to do whatever I can to win."

He was also questioned about why he has competed relatively sparingly this indoor season (only three competitions and all in his homeland).

"I haven't competed as much as the other athletes, but I wanted to stay fresh. A lot of this winter I've been working on my speed and power in training. I want to feel fresh to perform well in the final here."

Defending European 800m champion Adam Kszczot of Poland is attempting to become the first man for 42 years to mount a successful defence of this title. He was asked about his form coming into the championships.

"I hope to show what I can do. I have changed coaches recently and like in Paris (at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships), I will try to win this competition. The indoor season is not as important as the outdoors and not everyone is in perfect shape, but I think I am running really fast. I set a personal best of 47.56 for 400m this season and that puts me in a good place for the 800m. Even if the first 400m is run in 51 seconds, that is okay for me. I'm prepared to run the last lap really fast."

European outdoor men's long jump bronze medallist Michel Torneus set a Swedish record 8.20m in Stockholm last week and sits third on the 2013 World Lists. He was asked about his season so far.

"First and foremost I'm really happy to be in Goteborg, it is a big dream for me to compete in front of a home crowd at a major championships. I want to win a medal. It is hard and tough but I'm ready. I have worked a lot on my speed over the board when I'm jumping. I'm not there yet, but I think I can do well."

He was then posed the question what he learned from the London Olympic Games, where he finished fourth in the final.

"I think what I learned in London is that anything can happen. I think the Russian (the European leader Aleksandr Menkov) will be a tough guy but a lot of the guys are capable of a good result. I just have to do what I can to win a medal."

Two-time world junior champion Angelica Bengtsson will compete in the women's pole vault. The Swedish teenager was asked about her thoughts on the championship.

"I've since moved to France to join a new coach. I've changed my pole vault technique and I think that is why I haven't jumped that high this year, but I feel ready now to jump high."

 

European Athletics (EAA) – News